This Week in AI
Anthropic hits hard with two major announcements: the launch of Cowork, an interface that brings the power of Claude Code to non-technical users, and the massive expansion of Claude in the healthcare sector with over a dozen new connectors and Agent Skills.
Cowork: Claude Code for Everyone
January 12, 2026 — Anthropic launches Cowork, a new feature that allows anyone to accomplish complex tasks with Claude, in the same way developers use Claude Code.
The Concept
When Anthropic launched Claude Code, developers used it to code — then quickly started using it for almost everything else. This observation led to the creation of Cowork: a simplified interface for working with Claude agentically, without requiring technical skills.
How It Works
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| File Access | Claude accesses a folder of your choice on your computer |
| Actions | Reading, editing, and creating files |
| Planning | Claude creates a plan and executes it progressively |
| Control | Requests confirmation before significant actions |
| Queue | Ability to stack multiple tasks in parallel |
Use Cases
- Organize your downloads by sorting and renaming each file
- Create a spreadsheet with a list of expenses from screenshots
- Produce a first draft of a report from scattered notes
- Summarize meetings from transcripts
Integrations
Cowork integrates with the existing Claude ecosystem:
| Integration | Feature |
|---|---|
| Connectors | Link to external information sources |
| Skills | Creation of documents, presentations, and other files |
| Claude in Chrome | Browser access for tasks requiring the web |
Availability
| Plan | Access |
|---|---|
| Claude Max | Research preview available now (macOS) |
| Other plans | Waitlist for future access |
When we released Claude Code, we expected developers to use it for coding. They did—and then quickly began using it for almost everything else. This prompted us to build Cowork: a simpler way for anyone—not just developers—to work with Claude in the very same way. — Claude Blog
Roadmap
Anthropic plans rapid improvements:
- Cross-device synchronization
- Windows support
- Continuous security improvements
Healthcare: 12+ New Connectors and Agent Skills
January 11, 2026 — Anthropic massively expands Claude’s capabilities for the healthcare and life sciences sector.
What’s New
To support the work of the healthcare and life sciences industries, Anthropic is adding:
| Type | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Connectors | 12+ new ones |
| Agent Skills | New dedicated skills |
Sector Focus
These new tools are designed for:
- Clinical and administrative workflows
- Life sciences research
- Medical documentation
- Health data analysis
To support the work of the healthcare and life sciences industries, we’re adding over a dozen new connectors and Agent Skills to Claude. — @AnthropicAI
What This Means
Cowork is a natural extension of the Claude Code philosophy. Anthropic observed that technical users were repurposing Claude Code for non-coding tasks, and rather than ignoring them, they created a dedicated interface. The “research preview” approach on Claude Max allows for gathering feedback before a broader deployment.
The most interesting aspect is the architecture: Cowork is built on the same foundations as Claude Code. This means that improvements made to one benefit the other. The parallel task queue transforms the interaction into something more like delegating to a colleague than a chat.
The healthcare expansion arrives just as OpenAI is also launching its enterprise offering for hospitals. Competition in this regulated sector is intensifying, and specialized connectors are becoming a key differentiator.